Trash can holder



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L Dec. 20, 1966 J, w, CHAPPELL 3,292,795 A TRASH CAN HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed March 22, 1966 IN VENTOR.

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Dec. 20, 1966 J, w. CHAPPELL Y* TRASH CAN HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 22, 1966 FIG.

United States Patent O 3,292,795 TRASHCAN HOLDER John W. Chappell, 915 MacDonald Road, Virginia Beach, Va. 23462 Filed Mar. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 536,468 6 Claims. (Cl. 211-71) This invention relates to a trash can holder.

An object of the present invention is to provide a trash can holder which lends itself for ready mounting of one or more trash `cans thereon, and which m-ay be dismounted with ease and facility,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a trash can holder which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, convenient to use, and which remains clean or may be cleaned.

A further object of the present invention is to provide -a trash can holder which is positive in action when in use, and which is commercially lpractical.

Other objects -and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description,v taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the trash can holder -according to the present invention in position of use and having a pair of trash cans mounted upon the holder, -the full-line showing illustrating the can covers in horizontal position and engaged over 4the tops of the trash'cans,

fand the phantom lines showing the can covers in -the `FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1, the full-line showing illustrating the can covers in horizontal positions and adapted to engage the top of a trash can, and the phantom-line showing illustrating the can covers in the tilted rearwardly direction position.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of a part of the lower endless member and one ofthe strap elements.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, taken on the line 9 9 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a modiiied form of the trash can holder ,according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 9 of the drawings, the numeral '10 designates generally the trash can holder according to the present invention, the holder comprising a lower horizontally-disposed endless member 12 which, as shown in FIGURE l, takes the form of an elliptical ring. The member or ring "12 includes a pair of arcuate half sections 14 which are arranged in face-toface abutting relation and are xedly connected together to form the member or ring. As shown in FIGURE 8, each of the free ends of one of the sections 14 is formed to an enlarged sleeve 15 which embracingly-receives the free end of the other 0f the sections 14, the sleeves 15, FIGURE 8, and the other free ends of the other of the sections 14 being attached together Iby bolt and nut assemblies 16.

An open-work platform 1'8is disposed within and is ixedly-secured to the endless member or elliptical ring 12, the platform being -adapated to support .the bottoms of trash cans A, as shown in FIGURE 1. The'platform 18 embodies a pair of horizontally-disposed corrugated strap elements 19 positioned within the lower member or ring 12 so that the valleys 20, FIGURES 1 and 2, abut ,and are fixed to each other, and the ridges 21 abut against and are iixed to opposed points 22 of the lower member or ring 12 with each of the complemental free ends of the strap elements 19 engaging and fixed to the adjacent portion of `the lower member or ring 12, as at 29. Specioally, the ridges 21 are attached to the opposed points 22 of the lower ring 12 by a bolt and nut assembly 16, while .the abutting valleys 20 are secured together by bolt and nut assemblies 23. It is to be noted that the free ends of the strap elements 19 are flattened, the flattened ends being engaged by .the adjacent portions of the member or ring 12 Iand being secured thereto by means of bolt and nut assemblies 24.

An upper horizontally-disposed rigid endless member 25 of larger internal area than the lower member 12 is positioned in vertical spaced relation above the lower member 12, the upper member 25 likewise taking the form of an elliptical ring. The member or ring 25 includes a pair of arcuate half sections 26 which are arranged in face-to-face abutting relation and are fixedlyconnected together to form the member or ring 25. Each of the free ends of one of the sections 26 is formed to an enlarged sleeve 27 which embracingly-receives lthe free ends of the other of the sections 26, the sleeves 27 and the other free ends of the other of the sections 26 being attached together by bolt and nut assemblies, 28, FIG- URE 9.

A pair of upwardly and outwardly-sloping posts 30 arranged in opposed relation are positioned so that the lower ends are contiguous and fixed to opposed points of the lower member orl ring 12 and .the intermediate portions are contiguous and iixed to com-plemental points `of the upper member or ring 25 with the parts adjacent the upper ends projecting above the upper member or ring 25. The projecting parts of the post 30 are made adjustable, thereby enabling the post to be extended, if desired. Specifically, the projecting part of each of the posts 30, FIGURE 3, is provided with openings 31 which extend in spaced relation therealong, yand a sleeve 32 also provided with an opening 33 which is telescoped over said part. The sleeve 32 is slidably-movable along the projecting part of the adjacent post until its opening 33 is in registry with one of the openings 31 in the projecting ice Vpart of -the post, whereupon it may be secured in its adg justed position to the projecting part of the post by means of a bolt and nut assembly 34.

Means support the lower member or ring 12 in spaced relation above a ground surface. This means comprises, FIGURES vl and 2, a pair of laterallyspaced ground-engaging wheels 40 which are positioned so as to be outwardly of and adjacent the lower member or Iring 12 and are connected to the lower member or ring 12 so as to rollably-support the adjacent part `of the lower member or ring 12 upon a ground surface. Specifically, the wheels 40 are carried by a transversely-disposed axle 42 which extends beneath and is dependingly-atta-ched to the lower member or ring 12 adjacent one end thereof. Such means further comprises :a pair of laterally-spaced ground-engaging feet 44 which are positioned so as to be outwardly of and adjacent the lower member or ring 12 and behind and longitudinally-spaced from lthe wheels 40 and which are fixedly-supported from the lower and upper members or rings 12 and 25. Specifically, this lastmentioned means comprises an upstanding inverted U-shaped hanger 46 which is disposed longitudinally and outwardly of each of the opposed sides of the lower and upper members or rings 12 and 25 and is xedly-supported' from the lower and upper members 12 and 25, the free end of the one of the legs of the hanger being attached to the axle 42, as

3 at 45,`inwardly of the adjacent wheel 40, as shown in FIGURE 4. The free end of the other of the legs of the hanger 46 carries a ground-engaging foot 44. It is to be noted that the bight of the hanger 46 is attached to the -adjacent bolt and nut assembly 28, FIGURE 9.

An arm 50 arranged in an upright outwardly-sloping direction, the phantom-line showing in FIGURE 1, is positioned above each post 30 and has the lower end connected to the projecting part of the adjacent post 30 for pivotal movement of the arm about a horizontal axis or pivot pin 53. Specifically, the lower end of each arm 50, FIGURE 7, carries a projecting tongue 51 which abuts against a like tongue 52 projecting from the top of the telescoped sleeve 32 of the adjacent post 30, the tongues 51 and 52 being connected together by the horizontal pivot pin 53.

A can cover 55 disposed in a tilted rewardly direction, the phantom-line showing of FIGURE 1, is positioned inwardly of each of the arms 50 and is fiXedly-secured to the adjacent arm inwardly of and spaced from the upper end thereof. Specifically, the can cover 55 is secured to the adjacent arm 50, FIGURES 3 and 6, by means of a strap 56 which underlies and extends transversely of its handle 57 projecting from the top of the cover 55, the strap 56 being attached to the adjacent arm 50 by means of spaced bolt and nut assemblies 58. It is t=o be noted that a steadying memberv 36 is dependingly-carried by each of the arms 50 which, when the can cover 55 is in the horizontal position and embracingly-engaging the top of the adjacent can A, bears against the top of the can cover to hold the can cover in parallel relation with respect to the adjacent arm.

The upper end of each of the arms 50 carries a handle 59 for use by an operator to shift the adjacent arm 50 from the position in which the can cover 55 is in the tilted rearwardly-direction position, the phantom-line showing in FIGURE l, to the position in which the can cover is in a horizontal position, full-line showing of FIGURE 1, and engaged over the top of a trash can A.

Spring means is operatively-connected to each arm 50 and the complemental part of the upper member or ring 25 for biasing the arm to the upright outwardly-sloping direction position with its can cover 55 in the tilted rearwardly-direction position, the phantom-line showing of FIGURE 1. Specifically, the spring means comprises a pair of coil springs 60 which have one end attached to the arm 50, as at 62, FIGURES 1 and 3, and have the other ends attached at spaced points 63 and 64.0f the upper member or ring 25.

The trash can holder 10 according to the present invention has a handle 70 or use by an operator for manipulating the holder. As shown in FIGURES `l, 2 and 3, the handle 70 has one end pivotally-connected, as at 72, to the upper members or rings 25 adjacent the post 30. operatively-associated with the handle 70 is a releasable supporting element 74 for holding the handle in the position of its pivotal movement. The element 74 is of U-shaped form and is positioned so that the ends of its legs are pivotally-attached to the handle 70 adjacent its pivotal connection 72 with its bight slidably-engaging the adjacent post 30, the bight being detachably-engageable with a latch 75, FIGURE 3, carried by the adjacent post 30.

Reverting to FIGURE 10, the form of such tigure is the same in construction as the forrn illustrated in FIG- URES 1 to 9, and hereinabove described, except that the axle 42 and wheels 44 of the form of FIGURES 1 to 9 are omitted, and the end of the leg of the hanger 46 which is attached to the axle 42 in the form of FIGURES l to 9 is extended and a ground-engaging foot 76 of the type of foot 44 of the form of FIGURES 1 to 9 is attached to the extended end of the leg of the hanger.

In operation, with the arms 50 in the upright outwardly-sloping direction position and their can covers,

55 in a tilted rearwardly-direction position, the phantomline showing of FIGURE l, a pair of trash cans A are mounted in the holder so that the bottoms thereof rest upon the platform 18, whereupon a force is applied to the handle 59 of each arm, in turn, causing the arms to be shifted against the action of the related springs 66 to the positions in which the can covers 55 are in horizontal position and engaged over the tops of the cans A with a supporting element 74 bearing against the top of the covers 55, the full-line showing of FIGURE 1. To remove the cans A from the holder, an upwardly-di-rected force is applied to the handles 59, in turn, resulting in the shifting of the arms 50 under the action of the` springs 60 to the position in which the can covers 55 are in the tilted rearwardly-direction positionthe phantomline showing of FIGURE l.

What is claimed is:

1. A trash can holder comprising a lower horizontallydisposed rigid endless member, an open-work platform disposed within and fiXedly-secured to said member and adapted to ysupport the bottoms of trash cans, an upper horizontally-disposed rigid endless member of larger-internal area than said lower member, said upper member being positioned in vertical spaced relation above said lower member, a pair of upwardly and outwardly-sloping posts arranged in opposed relation positioned so that the lower ends are contiguous and iixed to opposed points of said lower member and the intermediate portions are contiguous and fixed to complemental points of said upper member with the parts adjacent the upper ends projecting yabove the upper member, means supporting said lower member in spaced relation above a ground surface, an arm arranged inan upright outwardly-sloping direction positioned above each post Aand having the lower end connected to the projecting part of the adjacent post for pivotal movement of said arm about la horizontal axis,4 and a can cover disposed in a tilted rearwardly direction positioned inwardly of each of said arms and fixedlysecured to the adjacent arm inwardly of and spaced from the upper end thereof, each of said arms being shiftable from the position in which the can cover is in the tilted rearwardly direction to a position in which the can cover is in a horizontal position and adapted to engage over the t top of a trash can when the bottom of said can is sup` ported on the platform of said lower member.

2. The trash can holder according to claim 1, which' includes in addition spring means operatively-connected to each arm and the complemental part of said upper member for biasing said arm to the upright outwardlysloping direction position with its can cover in the tilted rearwardly direction position.

3. The trash can holder according to claim l1, wherein said platform embodies a pair of horizontally-disposed.

corrugated strap elements disposted Within said lower member so that the valleys abut and are fixed to each other and the ridges abut against and are fixed to opposed points of said lower member with each of the complemental free ends of said strap elements engaging and fixed to t-he adjacent portion of said lower` member.

4. The trash can holder according to claim 1, wherein the means supporting said lower member above a ground surface comprises a pair of laterally-spaced ground-engaging wheels positioned so as to be outwardly of and adjacent said lower member and connected to said member so as to rollably-support the adjacent part of said lower member upon a ground surface, and al pair of laterally-spaced ground-engaging feet positioned so as to be outwardly of and adjacent said lower member and` behind and longitudinally-spaced from said wheels and xedly-supported from said lower and upper members.

5. The trash can holder according to claim 1, wherein the means supporting said lower member above a ground surface comprises a pair of longitudinally-spaced aligned ground-engaging -feet positioned outwardly of each of the t opposed sides Vof said lower member and fixedly-supported from said lower and upper members.

6. The trash can holder according to claim 5, wherein each pair of :feet comprises au upstaudiug inverted U- shaped hanger disposed longitudinally and outwardly of each of the opposed sides of said lower and upper memhers and xedly-supported from said lower and upper members, and a ground-engaging foot on the free end of each of the legs of said hanger.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TRASH CAN HOLDER COMPRISING A LOWR HORIZONTALLYDISPOSED RIGID ENDLESS MEMBER, AN OPEN-WORK PLATFORM DISPOSED WITHIN AND FIXEDLY-SECURED TO SAID MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE BOTTOMS OF TRASH CANS, AN UPPER HORIZONTALLY-DISPOSED RIGID ENDLESS MEMBER OF LARGE RINTERNAL AREA THAN SAID LOWER MEMBER, SAID UPPER MEMBER BEING POSITIONED IN VERTICAL SPACED RELATION ABOVE SAID LOWER MEMBER, A PAIR OF UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY-SLOPING POSTS ARRANGED IN OPPOSED RELATION POSITIONED SO THAT THE LOWER ENDS ARE CONTIGUOUS AND FIXED TO OPPOSED POINTS OF SAID LOWER MEMBER AND THE INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS ARE CONTIGUOUS AND FIXED TO COMPLEMENTAL POINTS OF SAID UPPER MEMBER WITH THE PARTS ADJACENT THE UPPER ENDS PROJECTING ABOVE THE UPPER MEMBER, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID LOWER MEMBER IN SPACED RELATION ABOVE A GROUND SURFACE, AN ARM ARRANGED IN AN UPRIGHT OUTWARDLY-SLOPING DIRECTION POSITIONED ABOVE EACH POST AND HAVING THE LOWER END CONNECTED TO THE PROJECTING PART OF THE ADJACENT POST FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, AND A CAN COVER DISPOSED IN A TILTED REARWARDLY DIRECTION POSITIONED INWARDLY OF EACH OF SAID ARMS AND FIXEDLYSECURED TO THE ADJACENT ARM INWARDLY AND OF AND SPACED FROM THE UPPER END THEREOF, EACH O SAID ARMS BEING SHIFTABLE FROM THE POSITION IN WHICH THE CAN COVER IS IN THE TILTED REARWARDLY DIRECTION TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE CAN COVER IS IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE OVER THE TOP OF A TRASH CAN WHEN THE BOTTOM OF SAID CAN IS SUPPORTED ON THE PLATFORM OF SAID LOWER MEMBER. 